Yasaka Rakza Z Review: Still a good hybrid rubber in 2026?

[NextLevel]

To be fair, this was my first time ever in my life being able to produce a shot like that in a game. It could have been just pure luck! In general I did notice that if I just hit the ball without really thinking about "activating" the sponge the rubber feels incredibly slow on my Tibhar Samsonov Black Force Pro 7 ply blade, but once I dig into the sponge it seems to me like it goes reallllly fast

Do the same thing with another rubber. Compare the result lol.

 

[Novarac23]

Do the same thing with another rubber. Compare the result lol.

I only tried out a select set of rubbers (mostly g1, c1, r7 and rakes Z) and out of the ones I tried this one has the most pronounced effect of "if I hit at my regular speed it goes very slow, if I hit really hard it goes really fast" and the delta between the two is big if that makes sense

 

[NextLevel]

I only tried out a select set of rubbers (mostly g1, c1, r7 and rakes Z) and out of the ones I tried this one has the most pronounced effect of "if I hit at my regular speed it goes very slow, if I hit really hard it goes really fast" and the delta between the two is big if that makes sense

You have been pretty responsible with your choice of rubbers. When you try a modern professional Butterfly or frontline ESN, you will be like wow...

 

[navuzor]

I think you meant Rakza Z right @navuzor ? I can tell you soon, I have only tried vega china once, and my memory of it is like a H3N but a bit livelier and heavy rubber, but since i have one sheet at home ready to test in depth soon, I will let you know

Yeah I meant Rakza Z. I have never used chinese rubbers and the only "hybrid" that I have used in the Nuzn 48, which to be honest it's just a tensor IMO. @victormanriquey what would be easier to use / adapt coming from tensors? Rakza Z or Vega China?

 

[Scarfed Garchomp]

Yeah I meant Rakza Z. I have never used chinese rubbers and the only "hybrid" that I have used in the Nuzn 48, which to be honest it's just a tensor IMO. @victormanriquey what would be easier to use / adapt coming from tensors? Rakza Z or Vega China?

Vega China is pretty hard, Rakza Z is noticeably softer. In that aspect I think RZ would be easier to transition to, but Vega China is faster than RZ however since it is pretty hard you also need to be able to hit hard with it to get the best of it

 

[victormanriquey]

Yeah I meant Rakza Z. I have never used chinese rubbers and the only "hybrid" that I have used in the Nuzn 48, which to be honest it's just a tensor IMO. @victormanriquey what would be easier to use / adapt coming from tensors? Rakza Z or Vega China?

Yep Im testing Nuzn 48 now and will review soon, its indeed a tensor with some hybrid properties, but definitely closer to a tensor

I think razka Z yes, but I have only tried Vega China once, I have it at home waiting to be tested in depth!

 

[victormanriquey]

Vega China is pretty hard, Rakza Z is noticeably softer. In that aspect I think RZ would be easier to transition to, but Vega China is faster than RZ however since it is pretty hard you also need to be able to hit hard with it to get the best of it

Yes this is what most people say in their reviews as well, looking forward to experiencing it first hand!

 

[navuzor]

Yep Im testing Nuzn 48 now and will review soon, its indeed a tensor with some hybrid properties, but definitely closer to a tensor

I think razka Z yes, but I have only tried Vega China once, I have it at home waiting to be tested in depth!

Looking forward to your impressions on Nuzn 48 and Vega China.
I haven't tried many rubbers, to be fair. Every time I've changed it's because it's a present. I started with a premade Palio many moons ago, then Rakza 7 on both sides of a YSE was my very first custom. Then G1/C1, then Omega 8 pro/euro. I disliked the O8P very much, extremely bouncy and very low throw. I gave it a chance for a couple of months or so. Ended up giving it away after I got a Nuzn 48 on discount. Much happier with it. I have just been tempted to test a proper tacky-ish hybrid for some time now.

 

[victormanriquey]

Looking forward to your impressions on Nuzn 48 and Vega China.
I haven't tried many rubbers, to be fair. Every time I've changed it's because it's a present. I started with a premade Palio many moons ago, then Rakza 7 on both sides of a YSE was my very first custom. Then G1/C1, then Omega 8 pro/euro. I disliked the O8P very much, extremely bouncy and very low throw. I gave it a chance for a couple of months or so. Ended up giving it away after I got a Nuzn 48 on discount. Much happier with it. I have just been tempted to test a proper tacky-ish hybrid for some time now.

Yes! So far im enjoying Nuzn 48, more on my BH than FH but it can fit fine on FH as well, a pleasant surprise and Im not one for tensors

Haha youve tested a bunch already though! Nice, G1/C1 is a great combi too.

How are you experiencing your Nuzn 48? enjoying it more than G1 for example?

Looking forward to playtestin Vega china in depth as well!

 

[Sherpa]

I really like Rakza Z for pretty much everything except smashing. I really find it difficult to put the ball away when smashing and it's not speed it's basically inaccuracy. I currently have only used it on wooden blades and I was wondering whether an outer carbon blade or even an inner carbon might provide the accuracy I'm after when smashing?

 

[Yurifi]

I will say this as I did with Xiom Vega Pro Hybrid, where everyone tried to explain it was a slow rubber. yes, it was slow, when played nicely. but when adding power, it was fast. it gave you as much power as you invested. and same with Rakza Z. yes, there is a lot of difference between RZ and D09c, but top speed is sufficient. when I hit hard and I am positioned well, it is a rocket. as it was with Vega Pro Hybrid. back to RZ vs. D09c - RZ is and will play softer, will provide that smooth buttery touch Rakzas are famous for. now, D09c is great feeling rubber, too, but Rakza Z has that litle bit of catapult oomph to help you when you are caught a bit of guard. yes, I love Rakza Z and would probably still play with it but there is one caveat - it's heavy. and while it lasts longer or even the longest among all the ESN hybrids, D09c still smokes it by a margin. these two factors alone are the true reason I am coming back to D09c ...

 

[victormanriquey]

I will say this as I did with Xiom Vega Pro Hybrid, where everyone tried to explain it was a slow rubber. yes, it was slow, when played nicely. but when adding power, it was fast. it gave you as much power as you invested. and same with Rakza Z. yes, there is a lot of difference between RZ and D09c, but top speed is sufficient. when I hit hard and I am positioned well, it is a rocket. as it was with Vega Pro Hybrid. back to RZ vs. D09c - RZ is and will play softer, will provide that smooth buttery touch Rakzas are famous for. now, D09c is great feeling rubber, too, but Rakza Z has that litle bit of catapult oomph to help you when you are caught a bit of guard. yes, I love Rakza Z and would probably still play with it but there is one caveat - it's heavy. and while it lasts longer or even the longest among all the ESN hybrids, D09c still smokes it by a margin. these two factors alone are the true reason I am coming back to D09c ...

Yes correct D09c is better than Rakza Z, they try to do the same but D09c is more in all aspects